News

Oliver’s Hopes Of Reaching 300 Denied By The Rain At Barnt GreenFriday, June 27th, 2014

Worcestershire batsman Richard Oliver was denied the chance to complete a treble century when rain washed out the final day of the Seconds four-day friendly with Warwickshire at Barnt Green.

Oliver was set to resume on 292 not out – the fourth double hundred of his career – before joining up later in the day with the Worcestershire Rapids squad for their NatWest T20 Blast clash with Nottinghamshire Outlaws.

But rain meant the Seconds match was abandoned without any further action possible on the last day – the fate that was also to befall the Rapids match in the evening at New Road.

Oliver, who recently signed a contract with the county until the end of the 2015 season, said: "I was going to carry on (before joining up with the Rapids) but play was called off. It is a bit of a shame really but it is what it is.

"I could have played a few daft shots last night and risked it to try and get to 300 but I worked too hard to get to that point to do that.

"It is a shame about the whole day, two disappointments with the call-off of the T20 as well."

Oliver's superb effort helped the Seconds top the 700 mark against their local rivals.

He said: "The pitch was pretty flat so it gave me the opportunity to bat some time. I was dropped on 96 in the slips but apart from that didn't really give them a chance.

"It was just a case of cashing in and once you are in that's what everyone tells you to do."

The Seconds will next be in action away to Leicestershire in a Second Eleven Trophy clash on Tuesday followed by a Second Eleven Championship match against the same opponents starting the following day.